A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s2.153

v1.c8.s2.153

Only very timidly does the poet venture on a reply to the question regarding the origin of the world. He imagines the state before the creation as "darkness shrouded in darkness," far and wide nothing but an impenetrable flood, until through the power of the Tapas,¹ "the One" arose. This "One" was already an intellectual being; and as the first product of his mind—"the mind's first fruit," as the poet says—came forth Kāma, *i.e.* "sexual desire, love,²" and in this Kāma "the wise searching in their hearts, have by meditation discovered the connection between the existing and the non-existing." But only gentle hints does the poet venture to give, soon doubts again begin to arise, and he concludes with the anxious questions: